1 Samuel 3:1–21
Samuel’s call story is beautiful, but it isn’t easy. The boy hears God calling in the night, not once but three times, until Eli helps him recognize the voice that speaks. And when Samuel finally listens, the word he receives is not one of comfort but of judgment: Eli’s house will fall because of his sons’ corruption and his failure to restrain them.
The next morning, Samuel is afraid. Who wouldn’t be? How do you tell the very person who raised you, the mentor who guided you, that God has spoken words of condemnation against them? Yet Samuel, encouraged by Eli, finds the courage to speak the truth.
This moment reminds us that listening to God is only half the journey. The other half is responding faithfully, even when it’s uncomfortable. Sometimes God’s word unsettles us. Sometimes faithfulness calls us to name what is wrong, to stand against injustice, or to speak a hard truth in love.
Courage doesn’t mean we are unafraid. It means we are willing to trust God enough to step forward anyway. Samuel’s story shows us that when God calls, God also gives the strength to respond.
Take some time this week to reflect on the reading and the following questions.
- Have you ever felt God nudging you to say something that was difficult to speak? How did you respond?
- Where do you see the need for truth-telling in our world, our community, or even your own relationships?
- How can you cultivate the courage to speak truth with love, trusting God’s presence to go with you?
As you wrestle with the truths God calls you to speak and the justice God calls us to live, carry this prayer with you:
God who calls us by name, give us ears to hear your voice and hearts ready to respond. When your word unsettles us, grant us courage to listen and to speak with love. Help us to trust that you are with us, strengthening us for every faithful step. Amen.
